Last week, The Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan published a must-read piece on the immense pay discrepancy between Minor League baseball players and those playing in the NBA’s G-League. The gist is simple: the G-League announced a pay raise for its players, which raises the minimum salary to $35,000 a season, plus benefits.

Meanwhile, a triple-A baseball player might only bring in $11,825, with far fewer benefits than those playing minor league basketball or hockey.

It’s easy to write-off minor league ballplayers and ignore their financial struggles. After all, a few of them will go onto make big bucks in the majors. But, we can’t ignore that many are working multiple jobs and still barely making ends meet. They might play a game, but it’s their job, and we can’t fault or punish them for pursuing their dreams. At the very least, they need to make a decent wage.

I hope this conversation continues and we can find ways to ensure minor league players in all sports can earn a fair return on their work.

However, sports paraphernalia superstore Lids had a bizarre take when they sent an email advertising the caps. Three of the Memorial Day caps were displayed–resting on fancy pillows–with the header “WE SALUTE OUR KINGS”. Lids also has a banner ad on its home page pushing the same message.

A little over two years ago, I picked up my southern sticks and moved to Washington, D.C. Nats Park is now my “home town” ballpark, which isn’t ideal, but the location has allowed me to check out numerous ballparks, including three MLB stadiums last year.

However, I have yet to make it back to Atlanta for a homecoming trip to SunTrust Park.

Until now (well, in June)!

I’m getting hitched in just a couple months, and wouldn’t you know, the Braves in in Atlanta the weekend of my wedding. So, on the Friday before the wedding, I’m heading over to SunTrust Park to check it out, see my favorite club play in their new digs. Who knows? The way things are going, maybe they’ll still be playing well by the time late-June rolls around.

Or is that too much to ask?

I’ve heard mixed things about SunTrust Park. The obvious (they’re not in Atlanta anymore) to the more surprising (the concourses are a bit tight), but I’m ready to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes. I’m still not thrilled with what the Braves did and how they did it, but we can’t turn back the clock (except when wearing throwback unis) and convince the Braves to stay in Turner Field, so it is what it is.

One of my best buddies, groomsmen, and brewer in Atlanta said the Terrapin Tap Room is doing some of the best stuff the heralded Athens brewery’s done in years, so I’m excited to enjoy some libations, walk around the park, and finally get to root for my home team in a park I haven’t visited.

As Oakland and Tampa Bay fumble their way through finding themselves new stadiums, a group of business people in Portland, Oregon unveiled the Portland Diamond Project with one goal in mind: bringing Major League Baseball to Portland.

A consequence of low wages is more visible this week, after top Cleveland Indians prospect Francisco Mejia filed a lawsuit against the company Big League Advance, which effectively bought a stake in Mejia’s future earnings. Basically, companies like Big League Advance provide minor leaguers with a sum of money in exchange for future earnings. In Mejia’s case, Big League Advance provided him with $360,000 in exchange for 10 percent of Mejia’s future MLB earnings. As a top prospect, Mejia could end up earning big money.

Without any notice to anyone frequenting this blog, Ansley and I went to Philadelphia last weekend to check out Citizens Bank Park. Today, we’re FINALLY off to Oriole Park at Camden Yards to check out the Baltimore Orioles as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their gorgeous park.

I need to do a write-up on Citizens Bank and subsequently Oriole Park, so expect glorious web posts in the near future.